Design and Fabrication of an Improved Cassava Grater.

O.R. Adetunji, M.Sc.* and A.H. Quadri, B.Sc.

Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (UNAAB) PMB 2240, Abeokuta, Nigeria. E-mail: adetunjiolayide@yahoo.co.uk*

ABSTRACT There is need for the hygienic processing of cassava. Prevalent conditions in the commercial grating areas of this staple food show a susceptibility to food contamination. A homescale cassava grater was improved on in design and fabrication. Machine efficiency, safety factors, and portability were considered in this research. The grating hopper and drum were modified with the drum having a stainless steel sheet wrapped around a galvanized mild steel core, The machine runs on a single phase one horse power electric motor at a speed of1440 rpm. The capacity of the grater fabricated was 158kg/hr and about 50 % reduction in price was achieved.
(Keywords: design fabrication, home-scale, improved, cassava, grater)

Over the past 25 years significant market opportunities for cassava have opened up in the animal feed industry, initially in the EEC (European Economic Community) countries but more recently for the rapidly expanding animal feed industries of tropical developing countries. Cassava roots compete with other carbohydrate sources, especially maize and sorghum, on the basis of price, nutritional value, quality and availability. Cassava has several advantages compared with other carbohydrate sources, especially other root crops. It has a high productivity under marginal climatic conditions, which results in a low cost raw material. Root dry matter content is higher than other root crops at 35-40%, giving optimum rates of 25:1 or better. Over 85% consists of highly digestible starch. Cassava starch has excellent agglutinant properties which make it especially suitable for shrimps and fish feeds, replacing expensive artificial agglutinants. The potential disadvantages of cassava roots are their bulk and rapid perishability, their low protein content, and the presence of cyanide in all root tissues. Through simple processing the disadvantages of bulk and perishability can be overcome. A stable product is reached when moisture content falls below 14%. Natural drying is widely used to achieve this objective. Drying also permits the elimination of most of the cyanide from root tissues. The dried cassava product thus has only one disadvantage with respect to other carbohydrate feed sources: low protein content. This can be overcome through price competitiveness. For export markets, where transportation over thousands of kilometers is necessary, further

INTRODUCTION Cassava originated from Latin America and was later introduced to Asia in the 17th century and to Africa in about 1558. In Nigeria, cassava is mostly grown on small farms, usually intercropped with vegetables, plantation crops, yam, sweet potatoes, melon, maize, etc. Cassava is propagated by 20 30 cm long cutting of the wood stem, spacing between plants is usually 1-1.5 meters. Intercropping with bean, maize, and other annual crops is practiced in young cassava plantations. There are two common varieties of cassava, namely, the bitter and sweet varieties. The cyanide content differs as well as suitability for different growing and consumption conditions. Usually, higher cyanide is correlated to high yields. Nigeria is the world largest producer of cassava tuber in the world, producing about 34 million tonnes of the worlds 174.0 tonnes.

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processing to produce high density pellets is carried out to minimize transport costs. Presently in Nigeria, the products of cassava are usually locally consumed and exportation is limited because the products do not always meet the international standards for healthy foods. Thus, the need to encourage the small scale (home production) of cassava product to ensure quality of products and good hygienic values. From the survey conducted, it was discovered that most of the cassava graters in the research area are usually corroding (reducing service life) due to the acidic nature of the cassava fluid and materials used for the fabrication. To ensure all cassava products is free from any taste, odor, or infected by iron content of parts (food poisoning) which may affect the quality of their contents (FAO/GIEWS, 2001) hence need to modify the design and use appropriate materials for fabrication. The product tuber spoils after 2-3 days of harvesting, hence need for processing into safer stable products. In view of the above mentioned problems and the overall importance of the cassava products the following objectives are required to address the shortcomings of the grater. The following research objectives need to be accomplished. 1. To design and fabricate model cassava grater. 2. To modify the design of the existing cassava grater (dimensions) to the home use-small scale sizes. 3. To change the crude wooden drums used in cassava grating machines to lasting stainless steel and galvanized pipe. 4. Ensuring proper grinding performance thereby eliminating vibrating shifter/sieving since the cassava products can be re-grinded to finer particles after pressing and frying etcetera (ensuring no waste). 5. To save time and cost of processing cassava products by the average family. 6. To promote healthy consumption of cassava products.

MATERIALS AND METHOD Design Considerations The machine should be efficient during use in the household as well as movable (portability) and safely or easily operated. Another problem is that cassava produces a large amount of cyanogenic glycosides so in selecting materials, for construction, adequate care must be taken not to use materials that cannot degrade/ corrode easily due to the acidic content in cassava. Table 1: Materials Used in the Construction of a Cassava Grater.
S/No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Name Hopper Shaft Drum Discharge Pulley Electric Motor Bolts Belt Frame Rivet Pins Bearings Perforated Mesh Cover Handle Materials Used Mild Steel Mild Steel Stainless Steel Stainless Steel Cast Iron Cast Iron with Windings Mild Steel Alloy Rubber Mild Steel Stainless Steel Cast Iron Stainless Steel Mild Steel Mild Steel

Description of Machine Parts The machine is expected to have the following components: The Main Frame: The main frame will be constructed with angle iron. The angle iron are welded together to form the frame work. The welding provides very rigid joints. This is in line with the modern trend of providing rigid frames. This provides the strength and rigidity for the overall machine. 1 by 1 angle bars was used. The Hopper: The hopper is the receptacle through which cassava is admitted into the machine for grating. It has a rectangular plan which the tapers gradually. Volume of the hopper 3 = [ (a + b)H]L = 23m . The Grating Unit: This unit consists of the shaft, perforated mesh, rolled sheet, circular discs and

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rivet pins. The drum will be formed by the shaft passing through the rolled cylindrical sheet and it will be welded in place by circular discs. This drum is then wrapped with the perforated mesh, they are attached by riveting. Electric Motor and Pulley System: An electric motor is used to power the machine. A reduction pulley system is used to transmit power to the graters drum at reduced speed and increased torque. This enables the drum to exhibit rotary motion thereby grating the cassava. The Discharge Unit: This is a continuation of the graters frame connected to the hopper. It directs the flow of the grated cassava to a storage pit or receptacle.

since it is utilized for torque transmission and bending moment (Figure 1).

Determination of the Bending Moment at each point of Loading This involves the preparation of the bending moment diagram for the two perpendicular planes: vertically and horizontally (Figure 2).

Force Exerted on Shafts (Vertical Force) The machine element that exerts force on the shaft is the belt pulley driven electric motor and grating drum: Weight of Pulley, W p =Mp g THEORETICAL ANALYSIS Shafts Design A shaft is a rotating machine element which is used to transmit power from one place to another. The power is transmitted by some tangential force and the resultant torque (or twisting moment) setup within the shafts permits the power to be transferred to various machine or its elements linked up to the shaft. In order to transfer the power from the shaft, the various members such as pulleys, bearings, drum etcetera are mounted on it. These members along with the force exerted upon them causes the shaft to bending. Therefore, we may say the shaft in this case is exposed to bending moment and torsional forces Where Mp = Mass of the pulley in Kg = 1.5kg g = Acceleration due to gravity = 9.81m/s W p = 9.81 x 1.5kg = 14.715N Weight of Drum, W d = V g (ii) (i)

= V g of [Volume of The two Circular plates + Volume of the Rolled Steel Sheet + Volume of Perforated Mesh] Where = Density of the Material 3 = For Stainless, 7930kg/m 3 = For Mild steel, 7860kg/m V = Volume of the Material 2 Volume of pipe = r h = (0.25 x 2 -3 3 0.245) x 0.35 = 4.1251 x 10 m -5 3 Volume of Circular Plate = 5.94x 10 m g= Acceleration due to gravity

Bearing

Grating Drum

Bearing

Pulley

Figure1: Shaft Bending Moment Determination.

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318.837 14.715

324.723

6180.3

112623
Figure 2: Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagram.

Point Loading of Shaft Due to Drum, -3 W d = 9.81[({4.125 + 0.0594}10 x7860) -3 + (7930 x 4.125 x 10 )] = 643.56N Distributed Loading Due to Drum = 643.56/350 = 1.839N/mm

To obtain the reactions at each bearing, we will have to take moment about the two expected bearing points independently.
Wd Wp

175 RBV

175

70 RCV

Reactions at the Bearings Due to Vertical Loading Below is represented the expected free body diagram of vertical forces acting on the shaft: Taking moment about point A, -RCV(350) + W p (420) + 643.56(175) =0 RCV = 339.438N Taking moment about point B,
Wd B A RB V C R CV Wp D

-643.56(175) + RBV(350) + W p (70) = 0 RBV =318.837N

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From the results of the calculations, we obtained the shear force and bending moment diagrams required.

RBH + RCH = Taking moment about Point A, RCH (350) = 67.35(420) RCH = 80.82N RBH = -13.47N From these results of the calculations, we obtained the shear force and bending moment diagrams required. Considering the horizontal, vertical forces, and the bearing reactions, the maximum bending moment then obtained from the resultant bending moment, (v) = 113958.08N Then, the equivalent twist moment from the torque.

Due to Horizontal Loading Below is represented the expected free body diagram of horizontal forces acting on the shaft
Wp D A RB H C RC H

(iii) Where

(iv) =113958.0895N Power Rating = 1hp =746W The diameter of the shaft can be determined by: = 4.95Nm (vi) =67.35N Using the W'p horizontal force, we then obtained the horizontal reactions at the bearings by taking the moments about the two bearing points independently. Where = Permissible Shear Stress of the Shaft Material ,42MPa Ds = Diameter of Shaft

Wp C A RBH 350 B RCH

Ds = 23.996mm Ds = 24mm Speed Transmission The transmission system consists of a pulley system reducing the motor speed by a ratio of 1:1 Note: De = Diameter of the driver pulley = 3 x 0.0245 = 0.0735m

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Dd = Diameter of the driven pulley

Determination of Centre Distance (C) Rubber Manufacturing Association(RMA) recommended that the centre distance is dictated by other consideration of the following values could be used: For speed ratios less than three: (xi) For speed ratios of 3 or more, C = D Therefore,

(vii) From horse power/motor speed, a motor speed of 1440rpm was selected.

Power Transmission The ratio between the velocities of the electric motor pulley/driver pulley and the drum pulley/ driven pulley is calculated mathematically, as shown below: Let Ne = Speed of the driver in r.p.m. = 1440rpm Nd = Speed of the driven in r.p.m. = 1440rpm Length of the belt that passes over the driver, in one minute = De Ne (viii) = 332.5m Similarly, length of the belt that passes over the follower, in one minute = D d Nd = 332.5m (ix) C = 0.147 = 6

Length of Belt In order to compute the length of the belt required, we use the formula below

Since the length of belt that passes over the driver in one minute is equal to the length of belt that passes over the follower in one minute, therefore De Ne = Dd Nd Therefore, De = 0.0735m = 3 Belt Design (x)

(xii) C = Distance between the center of the two pulleys L = Length of Belt Required

L = 0.525m

Angle of Contact on Driver Belt Sheave This is the lap angle of the belt over the electric motors pulley:

(xIv)

De

Dd

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Where

sheet, and it gives a straight cut edge unlike the hand cutting disc. 8) Pedestal Grinding Machine: It was used for sharpening the tools, work piece drill bits.

= RESULTS AND DISCUSSION = Cassava Grater Drawings Engineers use CAD to create two- and threedimensional drawings, such as those for automobile and airplane parts, floor plans, and maps and machine assembly. While it may be faster for an engineer to create an initial drawing by hand, it is much more efficient to change and adjust drawings by computer. In the design stage, drafting and computer graphics techniques are combined to produce models of different graters. We manipulate these models on video display screens until they incorporate the best balance of features, including ease of production and cost. Using a computer to perform the six-step 'art-to-part' process: The first two steps in this process are the use of sketching software to capture the initial design ideas and to produce accurate engineering drawings. The third step is rendering an accurate image of what the part will look like. Next, engineers use analysis software to ensure that the part is strong enough. Step five is the production of a prototype, or model. In the final step the CAM software controls the machine that produces the part. During the design of the machine, the drafting software I used was AUTOCAD 2007 version. This was used to draw the orthogonal views, Isometric views and exploded drawings of the model cassava grater before the commencement of the fabrication processes.

METHODOLOGY Machineries and Machining Processes Used in the Fabrication Processes are as follows: 1) Drilling Machine: This can be hand drilling or pillar drilling machine. This machinery was used for most drilling jobs. The work is stationery while the spindle carrying the drill chuck and bit moves the work must be held with a vice during drilling. 2) Milling Machine: This machine was used for the cutting of the keyway on the grater shaft. 3) Lathe: This was used for an extensive array of precision works also such as boring, turning, facing of the assembly parts. 4) Hand Grinding\Cutting Disc Machine: This is hand held and it comes in two sizes. The disc comes in the sizes 9, 7, or 4 diameters. The 7 disc was used for cutting and grinding. 5) Welding Machine: It is used in conjunction with electrode and tong for joining two or more metals together. It was used with mild steel electrode when welding the mild steel. Welding can either be tacking (which can be easily broken) during setting, stitching, (which can be used to hold thin metals (1mm metal sheets together firmly) or running (which is used for thick metal plates, 3mm). The mild steel electrode of gauge twelve (2.5mm diameter) was used. Welding glasses (dark) was used when working. 6) Bending Machine: It is used for bending sheet metals up to 5mm thick at different desired angles. It was used for bending the 3mm grater sheets at 130. 7) Table Shear: It is big and heavy. It was used for cutting plate less than the 3mm and 4mm

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Figure 3: Isometric Drawing of Cassava Grater Fabricated.

PERFORMANCE EVALUATION There are several methods of testing for the efficiency of machines but with respect to this small-scale cassava grater, the following method for efficiency of the cassava grater was examined as follows: (i) Employing existing wooden grating drum grater that is prevalent for grating taking the weight of the cassava being grated and the time taken to grate this size. 50g was considered for this method (ii) Tests were also carried out on constructed machine using 50kg of cassava for five different batches. The time taken for each batch was accurately checked and recorded. Each tuber of cassava was weighed and the weight of the whole batch of cassava obtained. The following measuring parameters were obtained and compared with the results of tests on the constructed machine.

Figure 4: Front View of Cassava Grater.

Table 2: Indicating the Number of Loading and time taken for each loading in order to Evaluate Performance of Existing Machine. Number of Loading First Loading Mass of Cassava 1.95 1.55 1.98 2.02 1.75 1.75 1.58 1.90 1.42 1.88 1.78 19.56 Time Taken to Grate Loading

Total

2 min 58 secs

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Rate of Cassava Grating (r) This is quotient of the weight (Tonnes) of cassava extracted per hour. For existing machinery,

Based on the construction materials selection and quality of fabrication work, the machine is durable and expected to last for about 10years.

REFERENCES
1. Bamiro, O.A. 2006. Paper presented at the AERC International Conference on Accelerating Africas Development Five Years into the 21st Century, held in Tunis, Tunisia, November 22-24, 2006. Bamiro, O.A. 2007. Lead Paper at the 16th Engineering Assembly of Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), held in Abuja, Nigeria, August 28-29, 2007. Bencini, M.C. 1991. Post-Harvest and Processing Technologies of African Staple Foods: A Technical Compendium. Agriculture Services Bulletin No. 89. Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO): Rome, Italy. Cock, J.H. 1985. Cassava: New Potential for a Neglected Crop. IADS development-orientated literature series. Pub. Westview Press: Denver, CO. Delta Youth Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society Ltd. 2002. Proceeding of the Workshop on Cassava Processing and its SocioEconomic Benefits. Warri. Flach, M. 1990. Gari Processing in the NorthWest Province of Cameroon. Working Document No. 5. FAO Project CMR/86/017: Rome, Italy. FAO. 1994. African Experience in the Improvement of Post-harvest Techniques, Food and Agricultural organization of the United Nations. Agricultural Engineering Service (AGSE) Support Systems Division Workshop, Held in Accra, Ghana 4th to 8th July. FAO: Rome, Italy. www.fao.org/docrep/W1544E/W1544E07.HTM FAO. 2000. Cassava: An Essential Part of Diet. Championing the Cause of Cassava http://www.fao.org/NEWS/2000/000405-e.htm. FAO. 2002. FAOSTAT, Statistical Data Base of the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Of The United Nations. FAO: Rome, Italy.

(xv)

2.

= 390.4kg/hr
3.

=158.9kg/hr
4.

Table 3: Cost Analysis of Cassava Grater.

S/N 10 12 Description Electric Motor Bolts and Rivets Size 1hp,1440rpm, single phase Drilling bit 5mm rivet and M6(13mm)13pcs M10(17)-12pcs M12(19)-3 length2pcs 9 7 Quantity 2 N 11000 100 250 1600 6.

5.

13 14 15 16

Electrode Cutting Disc Grinding Painting(Red oxide, Cellulose) Flange bearing Carrier Total

2 1

1200 500 300 2000 400 33,100

7.

4mm thick plate.8 dia

8.

CONCLUSION The home use/small scale cassava grating machine was designed, fabricated and tested. It was found to be effective and efficient and could grate about 158.9kg/hr. This machine can be used at home-scale for domestic applications and it is affordable since the cost of production is low which will reduce during large scale production.
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9.

10. FAO. 2001. FAO/GIEWS Food Outlook No 3. June 2001 p.9 .Product Profile on Cassava. 11. Kolawole, O.P., L.A.S. Agbetoye, and A.S. Ogunlowo. 2007. Cassava Mash Dewatering Parameters. International Journal of Food

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Engineering. 3(1):4. http://www.bepress.com/ijfe/vol3/iss1/art4 12. Hahn, S.K., N.M. Mahungu, J.A. Otoo, M.A.M Msabaha, N.B. Lutaladio, and M.T. Dahniya. 1986. Cassava and the African Food Crisis, Tropical Root Crops. International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA): Ibadan, Nigeria. 24-26. 13. IITA. 2006. Flour Power Nigeria. http://www.handsontv.info/series7/programme_4.html 14. Oladele, P.K., L. Ayodeji, and S. Agbetoyey. 2007. Engineering Research to Improve Cassava Processing Technology. International Journal of Food Engineering. 3(6):9 15. National Root Crops Research, (NRCR). Seminar Papers. 16. Nweke, F.I., D.S.C. Spencer, and J.K. Lynam. 2002. The Cassava Transformation. Africa's Best Kept Secret. Michigan State University Press: East Lansing, MI. 17. Onabolu, A.O., O.S.A. Oluwole, H. Rosling, and M. Bokanga. 2002. Processing Factors Affecting the Level of Residual Cyanohydrins in Gari. J Sci Food Agric. 82:966969. 18. Onabolu, A., A. Abbass, and M. Bokanga. 2003. New Food Products from Cassava. http://www.cassavabiz.org /IITA Publications

SUGGESTED CITATION Adetunji, O.R. and A.H. Quadri. 2011. Design and Fabrication of an Improved Cassava Grater . Pacific Journal of Science and Technology. 12(2):120-129.
Pacific Journal of Science and Technology

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